Fastener attachment system needle constructions

ABSTRACT

A needle tube or the like useful in dispensing fastener attachment members, the needle including a tip, a central portion and a mounting portion, the mounting portion having a hollow rearward end in which there is provided a knife edge extending inwardly towards the tip, a first feed slot at substantially ninety degrees to the knife edge and a second slot for feeding fastener attachment members through the needle, the second slot substantially ninety degrees to the first slot. In one embodiment of the invention the mounting portion comprises a plastic shank in which there is mounted a needle core which includes the aforementioned knife edge.

United States Patent Bone July 22, 1975 [54] FASTENER ATTACHMENT SYSTEM3,650,452 3/1972 Finke 227/67 NEEDLE CONSTRUCTIONS 3,659,769 5/1972 Bone227/68 [75] Inventor: Arnold R. Bone, Needham, Mass. Primary ExaminerGranvme Y. Custer, Jr. [73] Assignee: Dennison Manufacturing Company,Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Donald Brown Framingham, Mass.

1 Filed: Ju y 6, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT Appl. No.: 382,963

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 158,438, June 30,1971, abandoned, which is a continuation-impart of Ser. No. 39,564,April 17, 1970, Pat. No. 3,659,769.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1896 Campbell 30/357 X A needletube or the like useful in dispensing fastener attachment members, theneedle including a tip, a central portion and a mounting portion, themounting portion having a hollow rearward end in which there is provideda knife edge extending inwardly towards the tip, a first feed slot atsubstantially ninety degrees to the knife edge and a second slot forfeeding fastener attachment members through the needle, the second slotsubstantially ninety degrees to the first slot. In one embodiment of theinvention the mounting portion comprises a plastic shank in which thereis mounted a needle core which includes the aforementioned knife edge.

25 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL22 ms 3895753 saw 2 FIG. IOFIG. I I

H616 FIGU F|G.l4 FIGIS FASTENER ATTACHMENT SYSTEM NEEDLE CONSTRUCTIONSThis is a continuation of US. application Ser. No. 158,438 filed June30, 1971, now abandoned, which was filed as a continuation in part ofapplication Ser. No. 39,564 filed Apr. 17, 1970, now US. Pat. No.3,659,769. 1

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to devices forinserting fastener attachment members into or through articles or thelike and is more particularly related to new and improved needleconstructions useful in fastener attachment devices.

As used herein the term needle is meant to include tubes or the likeconstructed in accordance with the description provided herein.

Devices for inserting fastener attachment members as well as thefastener attachment members, barlock members or the like are illustratedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,103,666, 3,444,597 and 3,470,834. These devices findutility in the attaching of tags to merchandise, coupling layers ofmaterial together and fastening buttons to clothing etc.

In the past as shown by U.S. Pat. No. 3,103,666 the needle was merelyused for conveying a fastener attachment member to insert it intomaterial and performed no cutting function. Subsequently, the needleshown in US. Pat. No. 3,470,834 was developed and did incorporate aknife in the patent which extended outwardly therefrom from the rearthereof. In some of the latter devices constructed as shown in thepatent a V-shaped notch was also provided at the rear of the knife. Butwith this type of device construction the needle was not replaceable, ifbroken, or if the knife edge wore down after extensive use, once placedinto the housing since the casing was sealed together in order toproduce an inexpensive device. In addition, the needle would be mostdifficult to replace in any event since the parts of the device had tobe disassembled in order to insert the needle in place.

The use of the above identified needle also suffered from some majordisadvantages in comparison with the needles to be described herein inthat its use necessitated the construction of special guide slots in thehousing to retain the ears in place as well as specially shaped guideslots in the housing to facilitate the entry of the fastener attachmentmember in front of and in proper alignment with the needle knife edgeand slot. Further, the above needle also did not have the rigiditydesired to maintain its shape, when inserted into heavy material,because of the manner in which it was supported. The needle wheninserted into heavy material tends to bend at the point where thelaterial ears are joined to the central portion of the needle, whichresults in the destruction of the device.

Accordingly, to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, thisinvention has provided new and improved needle constructions which canbe easily replaced if worn or broken and which avoids the necessity ofspecially shaped housing mounting structures and housing guides toinsure proper location'of the fastener attachment member.

Summary of the Invention In a first embodiment a unitary needle isconstructed which includes in a mounting portion thereof a knife edge, aguide slot to facilitate entry of a fastener attachment member thereinand a passageway slot for the movement of a fastener attachment memberthere through upon being separated from its carrier. In a secondembodiment disclosed herein, a two piece needle construction is providedwith a needle core being of metal and the shank therefore being ofplastic which locks the needle core in place, the needle core beingprovided with a substantially V-shaped knife and the shank beingprovided with a guide slot, a passageway slot, and a portion removed topermit exposure of the knife edge. In addition, between the two slots ashortened finger is provided to prevent jamming of the fastenerattachment members as they enterthe guide slots. With this secondembodiment, which is the preferred embodiment, this invention provides aneedle construction which can be fabricated at considerably less thanthe cost of the first embodiment which requires expensive machining tofabricate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of a fastenerattachment device utilizing the improved needles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 to show the operating parts of thedevice;

FIG. 2A is a view showing a portion of the mechanism for operating thefastener attachment device;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the first embodiment of a needle in accordancewith this invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the needle shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the needle shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the rear cutting edge of the needle;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a needle core of the second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the needle core of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a rear view of the needle core of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a top view of the needle core of this invention locked intothe needle shank of this invention;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the needle shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a bottom view with parts broken away of the needle shown inFIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a rear view ofthe needle shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is a side view of the needle of FIG. 15 opposite to the sideview;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged view showing the shape of the knife portion ofthe needle; and

FIG. 21 shows an end view of an attachment member coupled to a carrier.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION lever 11 for controllingthe operation of theidevice At the front of the devicethere is shown aneedle according to the invention mounted in the nose of the device.

In FIG. ,1, there are shown guide slots 13, 1 4 and 15 formed in thehousing to permit the feeding of fastener attachment members 16 coupledto a carrier or bar 17 by connectingor neck members 18 as shown in FIGS.7 and 21. The slot 13 is for the feeding ofthe carrier 17, the; slot 14is for the feeding of the connecting members 18 and the slot 1.5 is forthe feeding of the fastener attachment members 16. I

In FIG. 2, thereis shown a cylinder 20 in which there is-positioned apiston 21 adapted for movement back and. forth therein, The piston 21includes a camming wheell froimi moving clockwisethere is provided arotatabl'edet'erit 54 hi I o'unte"rclockwise by a spring SSsupported inaavity formed in the housing.

. For furtherdetails of' the.operation of'the device of FIG S '1 ',7,reference may be had to the parent application ser; o. 29,564 of thisapplication."

surfac'e'22 which cooperates with an indexing mechanismfsh o'wn in FI G.2 as will be described. The piston supports a plunger 23 which isadapted to penetrate through a holeformed in member 24 at the front ofthe cylinder 20. The plunger is adapted to push a fastenerattacli'me'nt'or' bar lock member16 out of the front of thedevicethrough needle 12 as disclosed in the patents cited above.- Inorderto maintain the piston 20 in the rearward" position as shown inFIG. 2 a spring 25 is providedf-T-he piston 21 is moved forward byfilling a chamber 26 at the rear of the piston 21 with fluid (e.g. air)under pressure.

The flow of air into the chamber is controlled by the lever 11 whichcontrols a slidable rod 30 movable in a slot 31 formed in the housing10. The rod 30 is coupled at one end 30a to the lever l 1 and at the endto a rotary member 32 of a rotary valve. The rotary member comprises apa'ssageway 33 which is adapted to be rotated between an air vent 34,where it is normally positioned "when the lever 11 has been released anda passageway 35. The passageway 35 forms a part of a connector 36 whichis adapted to be coupled to a source of fluid, in

this case air under pressure. The member 30 is urged rearwardly by aspring 37 coupled to it and a member 38 coupled to the housing interior.

At 40 there is shown an indexing wheel or gear havif ing teeth 40a forengaging the connecting members 18 in order to feed the fastenerattachment members 18 one at a time at the rear of the needle and infront of the plunger 23 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. In order to rotatethe indexing wheel (counterclockwise) to feed the fastener attachmentmembers, there is provided a feed pawl 42 which is rotatably coupled toa lever43 by a pin 44."A flat spring 45 is positioned in a slot 46 ofthe feed pawl 42 and is supported atits other end by a slot 47 formed inthe lever. The'spring 45 urges the feed pawl 42 in a counterclockwisedirection. The lever 43 is supported by a pin 48 on a pivot support 49coupled to the housing 10 and is urged counterclockwise by a spring 50.

The lever 43 is rocked back and forth by, the action of a cam followeror roller 51 which is adapted to engage the cam surface 22 of thepistonthrough a cutout 53 formed in the bottom wall of the cylinder 20.

Thus as the piston is driven forward, the lever will 'ro-- tatecounterclockwise to move the feed; pawl 42 downwardly so that it is'inposition to engage the next tooth of the wheel 40.

On the rearward movement of the piston,]the cam follower 51 engages thecam surface 22 and causes the feed pawl to move clockwise to rotate thefeed wheel Reference should now be had to- FIGSf8-11 for a descriptionof one of the new needle constructions according to" this invention. Theneedle 12 comprises a tip portion 12a, 2 central portion 12b andamounting portion12c'. In, this construction the needle is fabricatedcompletely out of metal 'andis'machirie d to thedesired shape. Thecentral portion andmountin'g portions clude a central bore, the boreextending from the end .61 ofthe mounting portion 120 through thecentral therethrough when thef astener attachment member isdriventhroughthe needle 12. g

The mounting portion includes a locking notch 64 which permits theneedle to be held in place by a cam lock 65 in FIG. 2. The mountingportion also includes a second'slot 66 which extends fromthe' end 61 toa point in front of the locking notch 64. The second slot is positioned;to permit one half of the fastener attachment end member 16a to beinserted into the needle prior to the fastener attachment member beingforced through the needle. r

The mounting, portion further includes a knife 67 which extends inwardlyfrom the end 61 towards the tip 12a. The knife is wider at the end 61and narrows in- -wardly in the shape of'a V-from the end 61. Thekiiife67 is beveled at 68 and comprises two V-shaped edges, an inneredge 67aand an outer edge 67b. Thusthe beveled face of the knife facesoutwardly. The knifeis positioned at substantially to the second slot66,. and to the first slot .63 and the second slot is positioned atsubstantially 90 with respect tothe first slot. Thus as the plunger 23of the device forces the attachment members 16 through the needle, theconnecting member 18 will engage the knife cutting edge 67a and besevered from the carrier 17.

Reference should now be had to FIGS. 12-19 for a description of v thepreferred needle construction according to this invention The, needlecomprises two separate membersfa needle core 80 preferably of metal anda needle shank or mounting portion 81 preferably of a rigid plasticwhich are joined together. The needle 1 core forms a central portion 83of the needle as well as the fastener attachment end 16a whereas thefirst slot 86 facilitates the. travel of the member 16b th rethrough.The bore and slot are preferably formed by cold working the metal stocktoleave a shoulder 87 to aide in mechanically locking .the coreand shanktogether. The c ore is also'prpvided with a flat tail portion 88 whichhas a keyway'89 and a subs'tantially V-shaped knife '90 extendingfromthe-end v91 thereof: T he ke way cooperates with the shank to hold thecore in place securely withinrthe shank.

The knife 90, as does knife 67 includes two edges 90a and 90b with abeveled surface 90c therebetween facing outwardly, as seen in FIG. 19.The knife 90 is formed by conventional shearing techniques to form thecutting edge. u

The shank 81 also includes a bore and slot which are in alignment withthe bore and slot of the needle core, and are accordingly given the samenumbers for convenience. I,

The'bore and slot of the shank perform the same function 'as the boreand slot of the core. The shank 81 further'has a second slot 92separated from the first slot 86 byfa finger 93. The second slot acts inthe same manher as slot 66 of FIGS. 811. The finger 93 is provided inits shortened form to prevent jamming of the fastener attachment membersas they are fed into the needlejf As an important aspect of thisinvention, when the shan kliisofplastic, it-is important (although notabsolutely necessary) to provide a shaped finger which does notextend tothe end 81a of the shank to insure that thefinger which is somewhatflexible because it is of plastic, does not jam the feeding of theattachment members. It has been found that without the finger beingcutback the attachment member portion 16b has a tendency to end up inthe second slot, and not the first slot of the needle which causesjamming of the devrce.

Thus the shortened finger 93 provides a funnel or chute for the movementof the members 16b into position to feed through the needle. It shouldbe noted that the core end 9land'the shank end 81a preferably coincideor start from the same point.

As another aspect of this invention, the shank is formed so that theknife edges are exposed as shown in FIG. 19. This may be accomplished bymolding; removing or cutting away the plastic leaving a surface at 95.

The shank 81 is also provided with a locking notch 94 to securely lockand position the needle within the nose of the device as shown in FIG.2.

It has been found that to cleanly cut certain types of material such aspolyurethane fastener attachment members 16 without leavingobjectionable connecting member stubs 18 attached to the attachmentmembers 16, it is most preferable that the cutting edges 67a and 67b and90a and 90b be shaped as shown in FIG. 20 so that they have a roundedcutting surface at the bottom of the V.

It has also been found that with this V-configuration, the are definedby the radius R of the cutting surface 67a and 90a and secondarysurfaces 67b and 90b should preferably have an arc defined by a radiusof between .005 .Ol0 inches. It is also most important in getting theclean cut that the depth D from end 91 to the cutting surface edges 670or 90a preferably be between .015 to .025 inches for connecting necks 18which have a diameter of about 1/32 of an inch.

It has also been found that to obtain the best results, the angles a ofthe legs of the V cutting edges should be between 60 to 95 and mostpreferably 70 to 90.

The composite needle shown in FIGS. 1219 is preferably constructed usingconventional injection molding techniques using an outer mold and a moldinsert fitted into a fabricated core when in the configuration shown inFIG. 12. Plastics such as Delrin (A Dupont Acetal Resin) or Nylon filledwith glass fibers may be used to provide a shank which is substantiallyrigid and hard enough to 'be held in the device and to mechanically locktheco're in place within it. As will be seen in FIGS. 16 andl7ythe'shankis molded such that the plastic flows about the outside of the shoulder87 and 1 into the keyway 89 to securely hold the core in place. Itshould be understood that the shank could act as the keyway in place ofthe core keyway 89, if the core portion 88 was formed with a key.

I claim: I

1. A needle comprising a tip, a central portion and a mounting portion,a first slot and a bore extending from the rear of the mounting portioninto the central portion, a second slot in the mounting portion offsetfrom the first slot and which extends from the rear of the mountingportion partially to the front portion of the mounting portion closestto the central portion, and a knife provided in the mounting portionopposite the first slot and offset from the second slot, said knifecomprising cutting edge portions shaped to form a V with the bottom ofthe V pointing towards the tip and cutting edge portions spaced apart atthe rear of the mounting portion, and the bottom of the V extendingpartially towards said central portion less than the dis tance saidsecond slot extends towards said central portion.

2. A needle for dispensing fastener attachment members comprising aneedle core having a tip, a central portion and a flat tail portionhaving a rearward end, a first slot and bore formed in the centralportion of the core for permitting the travel of portions of fastenerattachment members therethrough, and a rigid plastic shank surrounding aportion of said core and having a first slot in line with said firstslot of said'core and a bore in line with the bore of said core, theplastic shank surrounding a portion of the core central portion and atleast a portion of said tail portion saidcentral portion of the corehaving a flared shoulder defining an entry way into the slot of thecentral portion, and said flared shoulder encapsulated by said rigidplastic to lock the core in the rigid plastic shank.

3. A needle according to claim 2 in which the tail is provided with acutting knife with cutting edge portions forming a V. l

4. A needle according to claim 3 in which the shank is formed with asecond slot which extends from the rearward end of the shank partwaytowards the front of the shank for permitting a portion of the fastenerat tachment end members to be guided into the bores.

5. The needle of claim 3 in which a portion of the plastic shank isshaped to expose the knife.

6. A needle according to claim 3, in which the V shaped cutting knifehas a curved edge portion at the bottom of the V.

7. A needle according to claim 6 in which the curved edge portion of theV has an arc defined by a radius between .005 and .010 inches.

8. A needle according to claim 7 in which the knife V extends inwardlyfrom the rearward end of the tail .Ol5 to .025 inches and wherein theangle between the edge portions of the V is between 60 to 9. The needleof claim 6 in which a portion of the plastic shank is shaped to exposethe knife.

10. A needle for dispensing fastener attachment members comprising aneedle core having a tip, central portion and flat tail portion having arearward end, a first slot and bore formed in the central portion of thecore for permitting the travel of fastener attachment memberstherethrough and a rigid plastic shank surrounding a portion of the coreand having a first slot in line with said first slot of said core and abore in line with the bore of said core central portion, the plasticshank surrounding a portion of the core, said needle having a shapedcutting surface defining a knife which extends toward said tip, saidshank having a second slot which extends from the rearward end thereofpartway towards the front of the shank for permitting a portion of thefastener attachment end member to be guided into the bores in which afinger separates the first and second slots of the shank and in whichthe finger extends only partway towards the rearward end of the shank.

11. A needle according to claim 10 in which said core includes ashoulder and in which the shank engages said shoulder of said core tolock the core in the shank.

12. A needle according to claim 11 in which the tail has a keyway andthe interior of the shank extends into the keyway and engages saidkeyway to mechanically hold the tail into the shank.

13. A needle according to claim 12 in which the shaped cutting surfaceis in the form of a V having a curved bottom.

14. A needle according to claim 13 in which the curved bottom has an arcdefined by a radius of between .005 and .010 inches.

15. A needle according to claim 14 in which the edge of the shapedcutting surface extends inwardly from the rearward end of the tail .015to .035 inches and wherein the angle between the legs of the V isbetween 60 to 95.

16. A needle according to claim 13 in which a portion of the shank isshaped to expose the cutting surface of the knife.

17. A needle comprising a tip, a central portion and a mounting portion,a first slot and a bore provided in the central portion, a bore andfirst slot provided in the mounting portion and communicating with thebore and the first slot of the central portion, the improvement of aknife extending along the side of the mounting portion, the knife havingat least one V shaped cutting edge with the bottom of the V pointingtowards said tip, and the open part of the V defined by the rear of themounting portion, said V shaped cutting edge having a curved portion atthe bottom of the V, said mounting portion is provided with a secondslot extending from the rearward end thereof towards the front of themounting portion to guide a portion of an attachment member into thebore, in which a finger separates the first and second slots of themounting portion and in which the finger extends only partway towardsthe rearward end of the mounting portion.

18. A needle dispensing fastener attachment members comprising a metalportion including a tip, a central portion and a flat tail portionhaving a rearward end, said central portion having a bore opening into aslot for permitting the travel of portions of fastener attachmentmembers therethrough, and a ridig plastic shank having a slot in linewith the slot of the central portion and a bore in line with the bore ofthe central portion for permitting the travel of portions of fastenerattachment members therethrough, said rigid plastic shank extendingabout and engaging at least a-portionv of said central portion and saidtail portion and said slot of the shank is positioned above a portion ofthe slot of the central portion.

19. The needle of claim 18 in which the portion of the central portionclosest to the tail portion has a flared shoulder at the entryway and inwhich the plastic shank encapsulates the flared shoulder to lock themetal portion of the needle within the plastic shank.

20. The needle of claim 19 in which a flat tail portion is provided witha keyway and in which the plastic shank extends into and encapsulatesthe keyway to lock the metal portion in the plastic shank.

21. The needle of claim 18 in which the flat tail portion is partiallyexposed in the shank and may be observed by viewing through the slot ofthe shank and is an extension of the metal core surface.

22. The needle of claim 21 in which the plastic shank has a second slotat substantially right angles to the first slot.

23. The needle of claim 18 in which the flat tail has a knife and aportion of the rigid plastic is removed to expose the knife.

24. The needle of claim 23 in which the knife is V shaped.

25. The needle of claim 24 in which the bottom of the V is rounded.

1. A needle comprising a tip, a central portion and a mounting portion,a first slot and a bore extending from the rear of the mounting portioninto the central portion, a second slot in the mounting portion offsetfrom the first slot and which extends from the rear of the mountingportion partially to the front portion of the mounting portion closestto the central portion, and a knife provided in the mounting portionopposite the first slot and offset from the second slot, said knifecomprising cutting edge portions shaped to form a ''V'' with the bottomof the ''V'' pointing towards the tip and cutting edge portions spacedapart at the rear of the mounting portion, and the bottom of the ''V''extending partially towards said central portion less than the distancesaid second slot extends towards said central portion.
 2. A needle fordispensing fastener attachment members comprising a needle core having atip, a central portion and a flat tail portion having a rearward end, afirst slot and bore formed in the central portion of the core forpermitting the travel of portions of fastener attachment memberstherethrough, and a rigid plastic shank surrounding a portion of saidcore and having a first slot in line with said first slot of said coreand a bore in line with the bore of said core, the plastic shanksurrounding a portion of the core central portion and at least a portionof said tail portion said central portion of the core having a flaredshoulder defining an entry way into the slot of the central portion, andsaid flared shoulder encapsulated by said rigid plastic to lock the corein the rigid plastic shank.
 3. A needle according to claim 2 in whichthe tail is provided with a cutting knife with cutting edge portionsforming a ''V''.
 4. A needle according to claim 3 in which the shank isformed with a second slot which extends from the rearward end of theshank partway towards the front of the shank for permitting a portion ofthe fastener attachment end members to be guided into the bores.
 5. Theneedle of claim 3 in which a portion of the plastic shank is shaped toexpose the knife.
 6. A needle according to claim 3, in which the ''V''shaped cutting knife has a curved edge portion at the bottom of the''V''.
 7. A needle according to claim 6 in which the curved edge portionof the ''V'' has an arc defined by a radius between .005 and .010inches.
 8. A needle according to claim 7 in which the knife ''V''extends inwardly from the rearward end of the tail .015 to .025 inchesand wherein the angle between the edge portions of the ''V'' is between60* to 95*.
 9. The needle of claim 6 in which a portion of the plasticshank is shaped to expose the knife.
 10. A needle for dispensingfastener attachment members comprising a needle core having a tip,central portion and flat tail portion having a rearward end, a firstslot and bore formed in the central portion of the core for permittingthe travel of fastener attachment members therethrough and a rigidplastic shank surrounding a portion of the core and having a first slotin line with said first slot of said core and a bore in line with thebore of said core central portion, the plastic shank surrounding aportion of the core, said needle having a shaped cutting surfacedefining a knife which extends toward said tip, said shank having asecond slot which extends from the rearward end thereof partway towardsthe front of the shank for permitting a portion of the fastenerattachment end member to be guided into the bores in which a fingerseparates the first and second slots of the shank and in which thefinger extends only partway towards the rearward end of the shank.
 11. Aneedle according to claim 10 in which said core includes a shoulder andin which the shank engages said shoulder of said core to lock the corein the shank.
 12. A needle according to claim 11 in which the tail has akeyway and the interior of the shank extends into the keyway and engagessaid keyway to mechanically hold the tail into the shank.
 13. A needleaccording to claim 12 in which the shaped cutting surface is in the formof a ''V'' having a curved bottom.
 14. A needle according to claim 13 inwhich the curved bottom has an arc defined by a radius of between .005and .010 inches.
 15. A needle according to claim 14 in which the edge ofthe shaped cutting surface extends inwardly from the rearward end of thetail .015 to .035 inches and wherein the angle between the legs of the''V'' is between 60* to 95*.
 16. A needle according to claim 13 in whicha portion of the shank is shaped to expose the cutting surface of theknife.
 17. A needle comprising a tip, a central portion and a mountingportion, a first slot and a bore provided in the central portion, a boreand first slot provided in the mounting portion and communicating withthe bore and the first slot of the central portion, the improvement of aknife extending along the side of the mounting portion, the knife havingat least one ''V'' shaped cutting edge with the bottom of the ''V''pointing towards said tip, and the open part of the ''V'' defined by therear of the mounting portion, said ''V'' shaped cutting edge having acurved portion at the bottom of the ''V'', said mounting portion isprovided With a second slot extending from the rearward end thereoftowards the front of the mounting portion to guide a portion of anattachment member into the bore, in which a finger separates the firstand second slots of the mounting portion and in which the finger extendsonly partway towards the rearward end of the mounting portion.
 18. Aneedle dispensing fastener attachment members comprising a metal portionincluding a tip, a central portion and a flat tail portion having arearward end, said central portion having a bore opening into a slot forpermitting the travel of portions of fastener attachment memberstherethrough, and a ridig plastic shank having a slot in line with theslot of the central portion and a bore in line with the bore of thecentral portion for permitting the travel of portions of fastenerattachment members therethrough, said rigid plastic shank extendingabout and engaging at least a portion of said central portion and saidtail portion and said slot of the shank is positioned above a portion ofthe slot of the central portion.
 19. The needle of claim 18 in which theportion of the central portion closest to the tail portion has a flaredshoulder at the entryway and in which the plastic shank encapsulates theflared shoulder to lock the metal portion of the needle within theplastic shank.
 20. The needle of claim 19 in which a flat tail portionis provided with a keyway and in which the plastic shank extends intoand encapsulates the keyway to lock the metal portion in the plasticshank.
 21. The needle of claim 18 in which the flat tail portion ispartially exposed in the shank and may be observed by viewing throughthe slot of the shank and is an extension of the metal core surface. 22.The needle of claim 21 in which the plastic shank has a second slot atsubstantially right angles to the first slot.
 23. The needle of claim 18in which the flat tail has a knife and a portion of the rigid plastic isremoved to expose the knife.
 24. The needle of claim 23 in which theknife is ''V'' shaped.
 25. The needle of claim 24 in which the bottom ofthe ''V'' is rounded.